Rescue type door stop

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to improvements in latch devices for pivotally hung door members, and more particularly to a novel and extremely practical latch device of the type commonly referred to as rescue or emergency door release devices. In many installations such as those commonly employed in hospitals, pivotally hung door members are opened by swinging the door inwardly with respect to the room or area for which it provides an entry. If a retractable latch member is employed to prevent unintentional swinging of the door member in the opposite direction, it is imperative that means be provided to enable the latch member to be retracted or shifted out of the path of movement of the door edge. The present application discloses a novel retractable type door latching device which comprises a mounting adapted for insertion within a recess in the door frame immediately adjacent the swinging edge of a door member associated therewith in a convenient location for manual manipulation. A latch member pivotally mounted within said mounting includes a stop or abutment portion to counteract movement of an associated door member in one direction and a conveniently accessible handle means for causing retraction of said abutment portion out of the path of movement of an associated door edge against a spring which constantly urges the abutment portion toward the path of movement of the edge of an associated door member.

United States Patent [191 Johnson 1 Jan. 28, 1975 211 Appl. No.: 289,138

[52] U.S.Cl. ..292/228, l6/82 [51] Int. Cl. EOSc 3/04 [58] Field of Search 292/220, 228, 92,219, 292/34l.l7; 16/82, 86 C 269,099 12/1882 Niles... 292/222 438,115 10/1890 Seely... 16/189 477,445 6/1892 Page 292/228 688,934 12/1901 Couture 292/341.l7 Xv 1,388,272 8/1921 Lawrence 292/219 2,107,687 2/1938 Brown 292/78 2,889,571 6/1959 Moore 16/82 3,105,992 10/1963 Carlson... 292/92 X 3,172,168 3/1965 Suska 292/219 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 74,448 6/1952 Denmark 292/34l.l7 172,494 5/1905 Gennany 292/341.17

Primary ExaminerRichard E. Moore Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Olson, Trexler, Wolters, Bushnell & Fosse, Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT The present invention relates generally to improvements in latch devices for pivotally hung door members, and more particularly to a novel and extremely practical latch device of the type commonly referred to as rescue or emergency door release devices. In

many installations such'as those commonly employed in hospitals, pivotally hung door members are opened by swinging the door inwardly with respect to the room or area for whichit provides an entry. If a retractable latch member is'employed to prevent unintentional swinging of the door member in the opposite direction, it is imperative that means be provided to enable the latch member to be retracted or shifted out of the path of movement of the door edge. The present application discloses a novel retractable type door latching device which comprises a mounting adapted for insertion within a recess in the door frame immediately adjacent the swinging edge of a door member associated therewith in a convenient location for manual manipulation. A latch member pivotally mounted within'said mounting includes a stop or abutment portion to counteract movement of an associated door member in one direction and a conveniently accessible handle means for causing retraction of said abutment portion out of the path of movement of an associated door edge against a spring which constantly urges the abutment portion toward the path of movement of the edge of an associated door member.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures l RESCUE TYPE DOOR STOP SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As previously mentioned, it is common practice in institutions such as hospitals to require pivotally hung doors to swing into the room with which they are used. It is normal practice, for example, to swing a door into a patients toilet to avoid conflict in an adjoining crowded bedroom, foyer, and the like. Latch devices commonly known as rescue door stops are employed to permit the door to swing in the opposite or outward direction in case of emergency. For example, should a patient collapse behind the door, thus preventing the door member from being swung inwardly, a rescue door stop or retractable device is employed to permit the door to swing in the opposite direction. The present invention contemplates an improved rescue door stop device which serves greatly to facilitate the ease with which abutment or stop portions of a latch member may be released to permit swinging of a door member in a given direction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a retractable rescue door stop device of the type referred to above wherein novel means is provided whereby the manual manipulation of a pivotally mounted latch mechanism is greatly facilitated.

More specifically, the present invention envisions a device of the type set forth above which may be installed with a minimum amount of effort and skill.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rescue door stop device as set forth above which will require only slight initial manual shifting of a unique latch member to assure continued uninterrupted opening and subsequent closing of an associated door member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The foregoing and other objects and advantages will bemore apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to illustrate the manner in which a hospital attendant may release a conveniently positioned latch mechanism constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the application of a rescue or emergency door stop device of the type contemplated by the present invention, said device being illustrated in door lock ing or latching position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the manner in which the pivoted latch member has been slightly shifted to permit door clearance;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2, the solid lines of the pivoted latch member illustrating the door latching position, and the dotted lines illustrating the unlatched position;

FIG. 5 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view more clearly to illustrate the innner side of the pivoted latch member disassociated from the door frame.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing more in detail, wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen that a rescue door stop device of the type contemplated by the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. The device 10 includes a housing or mounting 12 adapted to be nested within a complementary shaped recess in a vertical door frame 14. The housing or mounting 12 is secured in position in any suitable manner as by screw members 16 and 18, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The mounting 12 consists of vertical wall members 20 and 22, as well as integral upper and lower wall sections'24 and 26, respectively, FIG. 5.

A shiftable latch member 28 is pivotally mounted within the housing 12 by means of upper and lower pivotmembers 30 and 32, respectively, which through the agency of a coil spring 34 are urged axially in opposite directions, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Complementary apertures provided in the upper wall section 24 and lower wall section 26 serve to telescopically accommodate the pivot members 30 and 32, respectively. This arrangement facilitates the attachment and removal of the latch member 28. The latch member 28, on one side of the vertical axis of the pivot members 30 and 32, is formed with an abutment portion 28a, which is adapted, when occupying the position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, to prevent outward movement of the edge of an associated door member 36. On the opposite side of the above mentioned vertical pivot axis is a handle portion 28b which is adapted for convenient manual manipulation.

A vertical shaft or pin 38 extends between the upper and lower wall sections 24 and 26 and is encircled by a coil spring 40. One extremity of the coil spring 40, designated by the numeral 40a, bears against the fixed inner surface of the wall section 22, and the opposite extremity, designated by the numeral 40b, bears against the inner surface of the pivotal latch member 28. The coil spring 40 is so biased that the latch member 28 is continuously urged toward its latching position, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The handle portion 28b includes an end segment defined by a recess portion, which end segment is spaced from the outer surface of the door frame 14 to enable an attendant 44 to grasp the handle portion 28b and affect pivotal movement of the stop member 28 from the latch position, i.e., in a clockwise direction. The handle portion 28b includes a medial segment which defines an inner side surface. The degree of counter-clockwise pivotal movement of the member 28 as viewed in FIG. 4 is limited by the engagement of the inner side surface of the section 24b with the outer edge of the vertical wall section 22 of the housing or mounting 12.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that when the abutment portion 28a of the latch member 28 occupies the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, said abutment opposes outward swinging of the door member 36. As illustrated in FIG. 1, should a patient 42 collapse behind the door member and thus prevent inward swinging thereof, it is only necessary for an attendant 44 to grasp the handle portion 2812, as illustrated in FIG. 3, thereby causing the latch member 28 to shift to the door clearance position. shown by dotted lines in FIG. 4 and also as illustrated in FIG. 3. By grasping a conveniently located knob 46 the attendant is free to swing the door outwardly. It is only necessary for the attendant to hold the latch member 28 in its un latched position for an instant to permit the advancing corner of the edge of the door 36 to overlap the outer surface thereof and thereby permit continued opening of the door. After the patient has been shifted, the door 36 may be closed, the outer surface of the abutment of the latch member serving as a retractable cam surface to permit the door to again occupy the latched position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The above described retractable stop device is of extremely practical construction and may be installed with ease. The mounting or housing 12 may be in the form of a casting or unitary construction and may be conveniently inserted within a complementary previously prepared recess in the corner of the door frame. Before such installation is made, however, the pivot members 30 and 32 may be snapped into position and maintained in that position by the coil spring 34. It will be noted that the inner side of the latch means or member 28 is recessed so as to facilitate the accommodation and proper positioning of the pivot members 30 and 32 as well as the coil spring 34 interposed therebetween. Flanges on each pin .pivot the extent of which said pins may be urged outwardly, and the outer extremities of said pins project beyond the upperand lower limits of thelatch member 28 a sufficient distance to be accommodated by complementaryapertures in the upper and lower wall sections of the housing 12. The housing 12 also serves to protect the springs and pins against tampering or unintentional dislodgement. To remove the integral latched member 28 it is only necessary to shift the latch member to the position shown in FIG. 3,

thereby permitting insertion of a tool such as the extremity of a screwdriver to engage the pivot members 30 and 32, so as to dislodge them from their normal pivotal positions. It will also be noted that the parts which comprise the device contemplated hereby are relatively few in number and are of simple construction, thus enabling the economical production thereof.

While one form of the invention has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent that other changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a door assembly including a frame and a door member pivotally hung with respect to said frame for bi-directional movement relative to said frame; a retractable door stop device carried by said frame for coaction with a free edge of the pivotally hung door member to define the closed position of said door while permitting opening movement of said door in a first direction, but precluding movement of said door in a second, opposite direction and thereby defining the closed position thereof; said device including; a housing mounted in a recess formed in a portion of the door frame which recess includes adjacent open sides, one

opening to an inner surface of said frame, and the other to an outer surface of said frame, said housing being defined by vertical and horizontal wall sections which define open sides corresponding to the open sides of said recess formed in said door frame; a stop member car ried by said housing for pivotal movement, said stop member having a door abutment section and an integral handle section; spring biasing means carried in said housing for yieldably biasing said abutment section to an extended position wherein said abutment section extends outwardly of said inner surface and presents an abutment surface facing generally in said first direction for engagement by said door to locate said door in a closed position, and acam surface on said abutment section facing generally in a direction oppositely of said abutment surface, and said handle section extending in a direction generally transversely of said abutment section outwardly of said outer frame surface and being positioned out of the path of movement of said door, said handle including a recessed portion defining a handle grip end segment spaced from the outer surface of said frame to enable the grasping of said handle by an attendant and the manual manipulation thereof to produce movement of said stop member against the bias ing action of said spring to affect retraction of said abutment section out of the path of movement of said door, and a medial segment on said handle defining an inner side surface in engagement with an outer edge of a vertical wall section of said housing when said abutment section is biased to the extended position, whereby the engagement of said inner side surface with said housing limits further movement of said abutment section and defines its extended position.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, further including vertically disposed pivot means for affecting the pivotal mounting of said stop member, said pivot means including a pivot element projecting into aligned apertures in said stop member and said frame, and a spring yieldably maintaining said pivot elements in position.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said pivot means includes oppositely disposed pivot elements and said spring is interposed between said elements to urge said elements into operable position.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring biasing means in said housing, is provided by a coil spring member, the axis of which is disposed substantially vertically, with vertically disposed pin means carried by said housing and encircled by said coil spring, one extremity of said coil spring bearing against the inner wall of the housing, with the opposite extremity thereof bearing against inner surface portion of the stop member. 

1. In a door assembly including a frame and a door member pivotally hung with respect to said frame for bi-directional movement relative to said frame; a retractable door stop device carried by said frame for co-action with a free edge of the pivotally hung door member to define the closed position of said door while permitting opening movement of said door in a first direction, but precluding movement of said door in a second, opposite direction and thereby defining the closed position thereof; said device including; a housing mounted in a recess formed in a portion of the door frame which recess includes adjacent open sides, one opening to an inner surface of said frame, and the other to an outer surface of said frame, said housing being defined by vertical and horizontal wall sections which define open sides corresponding to the open sides of said recess formed in said door frame; a stop member carried by said housing foR pivotal movement, said stop member having a door abutment section and an integral handle section; spring biasing means carried in said housing for yieldably biasing said abutment section to an extended position wherein said abutment section extends outwardly of said inner surface and presents an abutment surface facing generally in said first direction for engagement by said door to locate said door in a closed position, and a cam surface on said abutment section facing generally in a direction oppositely of said abutment surface, and said handle section extending in a direction generally transversely of said abutment section outwardly of said outer frame surface and being positioned out of the path of movement of said door, said handle including a recessed portion defining a handle grip end segment spaced from the outer surface of said frame to enable the grasping of said handle by an attendant and the manual manipulation thereof to produce movement of said stop member against the biasing action of said spring to affect retraction of said abutment section out of the path of movement of said door, and a medial segment on said handle defining an inner side surface in engagement with an outer edge of a vertical wall section of said housing when said abutment section is biased to the extended position, whereby the engagement of said inner side surface with said housing limits further movement of said abutment section and defines its extended position.
 2. The combination as defined in claim 1, further including vertically disposed pivot means for affecting the pivotal mounting of said stop member, said pivot means including a pivot element projecting into aligned apertures in said stop member and said frame, and a spring yieldably maintaining said pivot elements in position.
 3. The combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said pivot means includes oppositely disposed pivot elements and said spring is interposed between said elements to urge said elements into operable position.
 4. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring biasing means in said housing, is provided by a coil spring member, the axis of which is disposed substantially vertically, with vertically disposed pin means carried by said housing and encircled by said coil spring, one extremity of said coil spring bearing against the inner wall of the housing, with the opposite extremity thereof bearing against inner surface portion of the stop member. 